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Friday, May 30, 2014

Seven out of ten members of the MEC
have refused to ratify the vote count despite the High Court Ruling
ordering the release of result today - in order to meet the 8 day legal
obligation for the release of results. The stand off continues!

The
seven MEC officials are basically blocking Peter Mutharika from taking
up the Presidency. Love him or hate him and his party it is clear that
he has won the election. The Constitution and rule of law are
more important than the individuals involved. The PVT and the
Afrobarometre opinion poll clearly support the initial MEC results and
it appears Mutharika has 42% of the vote. In a first past the post
system that is a mandate to govern. You may question the legitimacy of
FPTP and of the electoral process in Malawi but those are questions for
the future.

As it stand now Peter Mutharika must be inaugurated as
President of the Republic of Malawi for the sake of democracy.

Disclaimer: I have know political allegiance in Malawi. This will be evident to anyone who follows me on Twitter. @Thembinkosi

Monday, May 26, 2014

South
Africa held a General Election on 7th May 2014. The election saw
Jacob Zuma re-elected as President and the ANC maintain overwhelming majorities
in the National Assembly and the new Provisional Legislatures. There were no
surprises. The ANC vote was diminished slightly, perhaps due to the emergence
of the EFF, but otherwise the status quo was maintained. This was the 5th
General Election in the democratic Republic of South Africa held since the end
of the apartheid era and the ANC has dominated all five of these elections.
Elections were unquestionably “free and fair” and the rightly winners were
returned to office. This too many is an example of multi party democracy
exemplified. On 20th May 2014 the people of the
Republic of Malawi went to the polls to in the first tripartite elections the
country has held. In contrast to the South African election there have been
reports of chaos and failure of democracy in Malawi. The political intrigue is
fascinating and as I have said before akin to the drama of House of Cards. Never
the less I would like to argue that the 2014 Malawian election could
potentially do more for African democracy than any election in the post
colonial era.Malawi is maturing as a democracy that cannot
be doubted. There may be elements of subterfuge and at least political
maneuvering by ultimately the rule of law and the Constitution has been
protected by the High Court. In the past week Malawi has exemplified a model of
restraint. Even in the midst of Joyce Banda trying to illegally nullify the
election the courts stood firm and insisted that the MEC continued with the
vote count in accordance with the Constitution. Thanks to the intervention of
the High Court it now seems likely that a victor will emerge as the new
President of Malawi. This is likely to be the nemesis of Mrs Banda, Peter
Mutharika. The electoral process to my mind has shown real signs of political
maturity. There have been many, far too many hiccups, by ultimately the Constitution
is being upheld and it has emerged that Separation of Powers genuinely exists
in Malawi. The High Court has acted independently from the Executive and has
remained staunchly committed to upholding the Constitution rather than bowing
to illegal proclamations from the incumbent. There have been claims that Mutharika’s DPP
party has rigged the election in his favour. Such reports are seemingly
spurious. Firstly, one must question how it would be possible for an opposition
party to fix an election against an incumbent and furthermore one recognizes
that all the facts point towards a Mutharika victory. The PVT indicates that
the MEC count is accurate and the results being declared are very much in line
with the pre-election forecasts from Afrobarometer. Opinion polls are often
maligned in African elections and often justifiably so. A culture of accurate
psephology is only just beginning to emerge and the advanced scientific
methodology of Afrobarometer has taken many in the region by surprise. Social
Scientists now have the means, it seems, to predict election results based upon
their surveys. Perhaps a new political landscape will emerge across the
continent and in future psephologists will be more widely utilized by
candidates in African elections. Perhaps in this respect Malawi 2014 will be
heralded as a new dawn in African politics? It can only be good for democracy! The role of the military and in particular
the army should also be celebrated. The military have been deployed on the
streets of urban centres frequently over the past week but have acted with
great restraint and professionalism. In less developed democracies the military
may have stepped into the perceived power vacuum in order to rule for the
“common good” or to impose its favoured candidate on a nation. This has not
happened in Malawi and again I argue that this is a sign of a country that is
maturing as a democracy. During the electoral process information has
been freely available and local and international media have been able, it
seems to me, to report without restrictions. I have read many differing
political perspectives on the election process – in support of each of the
candidates – this is refreshing. Of course media outlets and people using
social networks have their own views and opinions but by and large the
information emerging from Malawi has been balanced. There have been enough
sources emerging to allow an observer to make judgments on the changing politic
scene in the country. A free and fair media should not be taken for granted. I started my article with reference to South
Africa – a country that saw an election take place with little fuss and very
few logistical difficulties. Results were published quickly and the process
took place very smoothly culminating with the much-vaulted inauguration of
Jacob Zuma. Some might say Malawi’s election exemplified the very opposite to
South Africa and criticize the country for that fact. What with long queues,
polling running into a second day, counting systems failing and results taking
days to be declared amid claims of rigging and malpractice. I can’t disagree
that the logistics of the election of been shambolic at times but I am
compelled to celebrate the positives. Four candidates entered the electoral
fray with some chance of being elected President in Malawi whereas in South
Africa it was a foregone conclusion that the party of Government would be
re-elected overwhelmingly. Malawi is potentially developing into a multi party
democracy! In South Africa only the ANC can win. Similarly in Botswana, another
country celebrated in the west as a model of African democracy, only the BDP
ever win! Even in the USA it’s either Republicans or Democrats (with nothing to
chose between them ideologically!) or the UK Labour or Conservative in the UK! There is so much opportunity that can arise
for Malawi as the new President takes over office. The country is demonstrating
enhanced political maturity, Separation of Powers is a reality, the
Constitution has been respected and despite a protracted process it seems the
will of the people will be adhered to. Structurally things are sound. Much now
depends upon those coming into government. A genuinely hung Parliament holding
the Executive to account is crucial. Some may dismiss me as naïve or overly
optimistic but if the incoming President can work with Parliament and not adopt
the “Big Man” posture then hope is in the air. Similarly it’s essential that
newly elected MPs do not seek to cross the floor in order to enhance their
careers. A new era of consensus politics could see Malawi as a beacon of
African democracy.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Malawi held it’s first ever-tripartite
election on Tuesday 20th May 2014. Of course most of the attention
is focused upon the race for the Presidency. As voting began opinion polls
suggested that the election was too close to call. The most thorough poll (from
Afrobarometer) suggested that Peter Mutharika (DPP) was ahead but would face
stiff competition from Pastor-come-Politician Lazarus Chakwera (MCP) and to a
lesser extent from the incumbent Joyce Banda (PP) and the son of the late former
President Bakali Muluzi; Atuple Muluzi (UDF).

The election itself has been dramatic
to say the least. It’s script keeps unfolding with more twists and turns than
House of Cards. For an outsider looking in it is enthralling. For the people of
Malawi there is uncertainty and tension mount as they await official results
from the MEC. The unelected incumbent, Joyce Banda, the darling of the west,
has cried foul play and alleges that the DPP have rigged the election for Peter
Mutharika. Such a claim seems ludicrous given that as the incumbent Mrs Banda
controls the machinery of government but as been reported verbatim as if fact
by the BBC and the Guardian in the UK. The fact is that President Banda lost
credibility in Malawi following the Cashgate scandal that happened on her watch
and that as a result she is distrusted by the majority of Malawians. There is
very little evidence of wide spread electoral fraud at presence. It is possible
that evidence may emerge let’s not forget that the African Union and European Union observers have stated that the election was free and fair.

Despite such allegations of
malpractice and vote rigging one feels compelled with admiration for the people
of Malawi and it is my belief that this election could be a watershed for
Malawian democracy and beyond. The election was conducted peacefully. Despite
some sensationalistic journalists trying to paint a picture of chaos the
reality is that other than a few skirmishes in Ndirande (a renowned township of
Blantyre) and a couple of incidents the elections took place in peace. EU
observers and the African Union have confirmed this. The culture of western
based journalists stirring up trouble couldn’t be better exemplified than by
the early messages on Twitter from a journalist from the Washington Post
“Monkey Cage” blog Kim Yi Dionne who claimed that illegal roadblocks and
rioting were marring the election. Miss Yi Dionne is clearly a capable writer (the Monkey Blog article is excellent!) but is clearly a better blogger from behind a comfy desk in the Northampon, MA, than when in the heated environment of an election day in Malawi! The problem with such journalists who
parachute in to a country they may never have lived in is that they have no
idea of the societal norms. Young men with their shirts off running through the
streets of Ndirande are guilty of anti social behavior and it reflects badly on
their locality but they are not rioting nor having any drastic impact on the
outcome of an otherwise peaceful electoral process. I have observed far worse
images of anti social behavior after soccer matches in Malawi than those from
the Election Day. It is not that I seek to condone anti social exuberance but
believe it must be seen in the right context. Similarly such amateur
journalists sensationalized the military presence on the streets of Blantyre
and Lilongwe. The army being on the streets is common sight in Malawi.
Furthermore, to the best of my knowledge the army did not have to take punitive
action against citizens in order to quell disturbances but carried out their
role in a relatively unobtrusive manner. Such scenes may be shocking to an
assistant professor from the USA but are not too many who understand the nature
of Malawian life.

The MEC has faced bitter criticism
from many in Malawi. Such criticisms as the EU observers allude to are
justified in the operational process of the election. Polling Stations opened
late, voting ran into a second day in some cases and the electronic system of
counting votes broke down. However, even against a back drop of pressure from
the People’s Party of Joyce Banda, elements of the media and many concerned
Malawian citizenships understandably anxious to hear results, the MEC stood
firm and insisted on only reporting results when votes had been counted. The
MEC gave regular news conferences and has been remarkably transparent and
professional. The conduct of the MEC in difficult circumstances has been
admirable and in many ways as been a model for African democracy and beyond.
They have refused to be hurried into declaring early results and have shown a
determination to focus on accuracy rather than speed. The job of an electoral
commission is always crucial but no more so than when results are so tight. For
the first time Malawi is electing MPs to Parliament as well as local elections
and that has put tremendous strain on the system. Whatever the outcome the MEC
should be saluted for carrying out it’s role with integrity.

It’s hard to speculate too much while
awaiting the outcome but I suggest that the 2014 elections in Malawi will be a
watershed for democracy. The newly elected President will be sworn into office
knowing that 70% of the people have voted against him/her in all likelihood and
will have to work with a hung Parliament but the optimist part of me sees how
this might be positive. The 2014 Presidential election cries out for a run offor a system of transferable vote. A run off would ensure that the newly elected
President had a strong mandate and the consent of the people. Now might be the
ideal time for the hierarchy within Malawian politics to consider
constitutional review vis-à-vis the election of the President? First past thePost might suit a two party system like the USA but does not suit a multi party
democracy like Malawi. The model for electing the president in France might be
one worth considering in Malawi?

So what for the future? One suspects
that after her initial disappointment Mrs Banda will land of her feet and
secure many a top job on the world stage. She will remain the darling of the
West and will potentially become an excellent ambassador for her country.
Atupele has now tested the water. He will be back and the UDF stronger. He was a
contender and is still young. He will learn from the experience of contesting
the Presidency and may well still be President of Malawi one day. As for what
happens to Lazarus Chakwera and Peter Mutharika – that will be determined by
which of the two is declared President of Malawi.

Monday, April 28, 2014

In the post I concentrated primarily on the problems facing the country but did little by way of offering solutions. In my follow up articles I will consider some of the positive steps that Zambia might consider in reducing the drinking epidemic.

First and foremost it is essential that young people are educated about the dangers of alcohol. Education is arguably more important in Zambia than in any other country in the world given the fact that approximately half of all living Zambians are under the age of eighteen. Unfortunately many young Zambians are not exposed to good role models as many of their parents and relatives may be heavy drinkers. In most societies, where women drinking to the excess that Zambian women do is taboo, a mother is usually a model of sobriety for her children. Given that 42% of Zambian women are likely to drink to excess at least once a week, according to the WHO, it is likely that many young Zambians lack the guidance of even one sober parent. Bear in mind also that the statistics from the World Health Organization do not highlight the frequency with which Zambian women drink each week. Casual observation would suggest that for many of these women drinking is part of their daily routine and that drunkenness is the norm. Not a great environment for the education of the young given that the first educators of any child is the parents and actions most certainly speak louder than words.

Aside from the family the next group of people to have a real influence on youths and children is their teachers. Given that most young people are first tempted by alcohol in their teens it is important that their teachers in Secondary school are excellent role models. This is imperative especially in the circumstance where heavy drinking is the norm in the home. Most teachers in Zambia are professional and are serious in their duties. It is only a minority who fail to report for work or are drunk whilst on duty. However, even if a teacher is an excellent role model in school their responsibility does not end there. A teacher has a duty to uphold good moral standards at all times when their students may be of witness. Thus it can never be appropriate for a teacher to drink heavily in front of his/her students. Should a teacher wish to drink of an evening or a weekend - which is their right - they should be cautious of their audience. Drinking in the same bars as their students is most certainly inappropriate but one might argue that being seen intoxicated by the young people they educate and guide is also morally wrong. There are of course grey areas in this aspect of the debate but in the majority of cases a teacher should be a beacon of moral virtue for his/her students.

It is not helpful to demonize alcohol or those people that enjoy a few drinks. Drinking in moderation is socially acceptable in most parts of the world. My personal experience of life in Zambia is that I made many great friends over a few Mosi's or Castle's after finishing work. It is important that the consumption of alcohol does not become one's raison d'etre and that the individual is always in control of their relationship with alcohol. Once alcohol gains the upper hand it becomes a dagerous drug that destroys productivity, families and communities. In this respect it is important that Churches speak out and offer guidance but this should not be to condemn alcohol or those who drink. After all Scripture only criticizes drunkenness and not the consumption of alcohol per se. Churches condemning all those who enjoy are a few beers or ciders are not helping the situation in Zambia. Abstinence is not the only answer! Christians should remember that Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine and that there was wine present at his Last Supper. Let's not be selective when quoting scripture if that's a justification for the condemnation of alcohol one seeks. Instead Churches must support those with alcohol problems and their families. Pastoral care and Christian love should be shown to those with alcohol dependency and never rejection. After all Jesus came to save the sinner!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

WHO evidence shows that Zambian women are
the biggest consumers of alcohol in the world. The horrible reality is that alcohol destroys
lives in Zambia.

The survey shows that Zambia as a nation
has the worst problem with alcohol that any other country in the world
with men and women consuming enormous amounts of alcohol. Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the statistics presented by the World Health Organization is that the problem is worst among Zambian women with the evidence suggesting that 42% of Zambian women drink to excess at least once a week. The statistics unfortunately do not lie as wherever and whenever one travels in Zambia one will witness drunkenness. The statistics
only partly reflect the reality as well as it is commonplace to see
men, women and children drunk to an extreme one might consider
impossible at all times of day and night. I have seen elderly women barely able to walk due to intoxication in the middle of an afternoon and have witnessed teenage girls taking drinks from much older men in bars across Zambia. Many teenage girls fall into dependency upon alcohol and often will take drinks from men in return for sex. Alcohol abuse in Zambia is explicitly linked to prostitution and subsequently to the spread of HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy and other associated social evils. The situation is out of control across the country.

The situation isn't confined to cities either - alcoholism extends into the compounds and villages. Cheap alcohol is readily available across the country. Some is sold legally in shops where other brews are made in homes and sold to unlicensed shebeens for sale within communities. One can buy alcohol at any time of day or night from markets that trade all night. Although such trade is illegal the law is not enforced by the authorities.

The problem
permeates across the whole of society but as always those who suffer
most are those living in poverty and tragically the biggest victims are
often children. The most tragic aspect which
the statistics do not reflect is the level of drunkenness and alcoholism
among children. It is no wonder children turn to alcohol. After all what sort of example are they set by their parents, uncles and aunts and even grandparents? One of the busiest nights of the year in Zambia is when Grade 12 children complete their exams. Children flood into bars and nightclubs and often subsequently in to a life dominated by alcohol abuse.

I only hope that the Zambian government is now stirred
into action and legislates to reduce access to alcohol in the country.
President Ian Khama in Botswana adopted hardline measures to reduce
alcohol abuse in his country and I would suggest it's time that
President Sata adopted similar measures to his neighbours. The banning of “Tujili jili” in 2012 showed the political will to address the issue of alcoholism in the nation but unfortunately little has happened since and traders have now circumnavigated the legislation but repackaging cheap alcohol for sale to the Zambian public.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Many people with limited knowledge of Africa probably think of Poverty, Malaria and HIV/Aids as the major causes of death in countries like Zambia and other parts of Sub Saharan Africa but add to the list Road Traffic Accidents.

This is horrendous news but it barely ruffles
any feathers in Zambia because death on the roads is so frequent. First
and foremost drivers must start taking responsibility for their actions
as most "accidents" (I prefer the term collisions as
accidents implies a lack of accountability to any party!) are caused by
recklessness. Such recklessness is often due to driving under in
influence of alcohol. In many countries driving under the influence of
alcohol is stigmatized. There is little sympathy from the public or
court when a driver causes an "accident" while drunk.

Meanwhile in Zambia it is commonplace to drive from bar to bar during
all day drinking sessions and even to drink while driving! This is where
individual responsibility is essential. Obviously the driver is
blameworthy but I would argue so are all of his/her passengers if they
are aware of the amount of alcohol he has consumed. Moreover, I would
also apportion blame to the bar/pub that allowed him/her to drink when
inebriated and in charge of a motor vehicle.

Individual
responsibility should also be applied to those who knowingly drive
vehicles that are unfit for use upon a public highway. Zambia's roads is
full of such unfit vehicles and these are often the cause of
fatalities. Major highways are strewn with broken down trucks (that have
passed through weighbridges and roadblocks!) and countless cars can be
spotted without headlights.

In each of the above scenarios
though the accountability lies not only with the individual but also
with authorities. Government must take the lead and ensure that credible
education programs are implemented. Police must enforce high standards
of road-worthiness upon vehicles and investigate how clearly unfit
vehicles came to be granted "fitness certificates." Everyone knows it is
because of "back-handers" and corruption but little is ever done to
deter RTSA (Road Traffic Safety Agency) employees from issuing such certificates in return for
bribes. Government and RTSA also have a role to play in ensuring that
the quality of roads are improved in Zambia and that less "accidents"
are caused by potholes and roads which are not fit for purpose.

Over the Easter weekend the Zambian Police Force issued a statement
reinforcing a police presence over the holiday period. This included the
setting up of roadblocks to promote road safety. Unfortunately reality
of a roadblock is a license to make money by the Police Officers on
duty. Drivers will often be fined for minor indiscretions in order for
the officers to raise some capital for Mosi, Castle and Hunters Dry (for
the side-dish!) so that they can enjoy the weekend festivities too. Such dereliction of duty is a crime and a crime
committed by those entrusted to uphold the law!

The tragedy is
that similar events occur every day in Zambia. Every day mothers bury
their children and people grieve over "accidents" that could have been
avoided. May the souls of those who passed away this past weekend rest
in peace.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Zambezi International Green School is now two years old. We celebrated our second anniversary at the beginning of the 2014 academic year. The school is now flourishing and full of the vibrancy of children learning

We have had our ups and downs since our opening and it would be true to say that establishing financial stability has been one of the major challenges. The school opened at a time when the Zambian economy was in sharp decline and thus many of our parents have had problems in paying school fees on time. The knock on effect for the school has been a period of financial challenge but we are optimistic that we are through the hardest times and our outlook for the future is one of optimism.

For more information about ZIGS it is advisable to check out our website:

Monday, January 02, 2012

2011 has been an exciting and eventful year for all of us connected with the Zambezi International Green School especially as we are now a tangible reality having opened our doors to our first pupils in September. We now look forward to the New Year and hope and pray that we grow from strength to strength.

It was in July that we found the perfect building for the first stage of our project. Within six weeks we transformed the building from an empty shell to a vibrant centre of learning. This was largely due to the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff.

We opened at a difficult time given that September sees the start of the third term in Zambian schools and many parents are reluctant to move their children to a new school at such a time in the academic year. However, despite this we managed to recruit sixteen pupils into our Early Childhood Learning Centre. From small acorns grow great oak trees and even in its one term of operation Zambezi International Green School has established itself as the beacon school across the City of Livingstone.

Despite the tremendous success of our Early Years Learning Centre 2011 ended on a sad note with the untimely passing of Mr David Khomonyane - the Headman we have worked so closely with over the past few years. Mr Khomonyane left behind a widow and six children. We hope that the success of our school and especially the Kazungula campus will be a fitting memorial to our friend and colleague.

As 2012 begins our focus is very much on growth and development. We are currently recruiting pupils for our Early Learning Centre and Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 at our Flamboyant Lane campus whilst actively seeking an additional building in order to provide for students in Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 from this time next year. This strategy enables us to continue to grow as a centre of educational excellence and to generate income to invest in the future vision for ZIGS which as our purpose built green school on the banks of the Zambezi.

With our student numbers growing we are in a position to bring on board new members of our team. Depending upon the exact number of pupils enrolling for the new academic year we hope to employ four or five new members of the teaching staff. This will ensure that we meet our promise to parents that all classes will be small with an excellent teacher : pupil ratio. Furthermore, everyone working as a teacher at ZIGS will be qualified as a teacher. Unlike many other private schools in Zambia we will not employ non qualified staff to work in classrooms alongside teachers. We are committed to exemplary standards. One our new teachers’ joining us in January is Mr Aqeel Ahmad – a Mathematics specialist from Pakistan. Aqeel has won prizes for the teaching of Maths in his own country and will be a wonderful addition to the ZIGS increasingly international team of staff and students!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Great news from Zambia! We are close to opening the first phase of our green school here in Zambia. In order to kick start the project we have agreed to rent a building in Livingstone where we are going to open a per-school and nursery section. We have been working with various partners over the past few weeks and things are looking good right now!

Of course our aim is to build our own school on the banks of the Zambezi and we also have good news on that front. After much delay we are now (hopefully) near to securing the title deeds for the land. This is a vital aspect of our project - Madonna's schools project in Malawi collapsed as she failed to gain land rights! All being well we will be opening our secondary section in Sept 2012/Jan 2013 on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River!

Right now we are looking for volunteers to work with us on various aspects of the project. Firstly we are looking for Early Years Learning/ Pre School teachers to work with us at our ZIGS, Livingstone. Qualified teachers looking for a fresh challenge or anyone who fancies a gap year or internship should get in touch. We are not in a postion to pay more than an allowance but can offer the chance to work for a project that will really make a difference in children's lives!

For our purpose built secondary school we seek an archetect with genuine green credentials to work with us in designing the school. It is an exciting opportunity as we can offer the right person a carte blanche in the resepct of design in a genuine wilderness setting. If you know such a person ask them to contact us!!!

Soon we will be recruiting teachers and an array of support staff for ZIGS. Please consider what you might be able to do to help us with this amazing project or pass on this e mail to friends!!!

Thembinkosi Foundation

An ever evolving platform for my musings on African politics and societies with particular focus on Botswana, Malawi and Zambia as these are the countries I have lived and worked in. I attempt to be objective and recognize that I am an outsider looking in on African life and culture. I work as Curriculum Director at an international school in Paris, France and as CEO of Zambezi International Green School in Livingstone, Zambia. My hear is in Africa!